Khandu inaugurates SARAS Fair in Itanagar, champions women-led development and economic growth
“India will develop when the Northeast develops. Northeast will develop when Arunachal develops. Arunachal will develop when its villages develop. Villages will develop when women of the villages develop,” declared Chief Minister Pema Khandu as he inaugurated the SARAS Fair in Itanagar on Monday. The event celebrates rural craftsmanship while promoting women-led sustainable livelihoods across Arunachal Pradesh.
The annual SARAS Fair, organized by the state government, provides a vital platform for rural artisans to connect with national and international markets. Showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage, the fair features traditional handlooms, handicrafts, organic products, and food stalls managed by self-help groups (SHGs) from across the state.
Khandu highlighted the remarkable growth and collective achievements of SHGs, revealing that they currently manage a corpus pool of approximately Rs 300 crores. This fund reflects the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of rural communities navigating the challenging terrains of the state.
The Chief Minister celebrated the success of Arunachal’s initiative to transform SHG members into “Lakhpati Didis” (women earning over Rs 1 lakh annually). The state has already certified over 1,600 women under this initiative and identified an additional 29,000 potential members for capacity building.
“This success is a testament to their hard work, resilience, and diversified livelihood activities in agriculture, horticulture, livestock farming, and small enterprises,” Khandu noted, praising the dedication of Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission (ArSRLM) officials.
Promoting Local Talent and Traditional Crafts
The fair featured several initiatives aimed at supporting women artisans, including the launch of the Handloom, Handicraft, Crochet, Knitting & Embroidery Cluster Initiative under ArSRLM. This program will train Master Trainers statewide through specialized design development programs and provide seed capital support of Rs 2 lakh per cluster.
Khandu handed over Rs 1 crore each in capital support for Handloom, Handicraft, Crochet, Knitting, and Embroidery clusters. He also announced the creation of a dedicated marketing outlet in the state capital for SHG products, alongside an inventory and fulfilment hub to facilitate e-commerce access, enabling SHG products to reach national and international markets.
To further strengthen rural economies, the state government signed agreements with the Indian Army and ITBP to supply fresh vegetables, fruits, and other locally produced food products.
“This system, once streamlined, will serve as a major market hub for locally grown produce,” Khandu remarked.
Since its inception in 2016, the Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission has expanded significantly, involving nearly 1,40,000 households and 14,000 SHGs across 25 districts and 125 blocks. This year’s SARAS Fair has drawn participation from SHGs across Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Jharkhand.
Khandu concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting SHGs with access to training, credit, and market linkages, emphasizing that the SARAS Fair is a celebration of their aspirations and achievements. “I salute their indomitable spirit,” he added.
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